Tai Yo language
| Tai Mène | |
|---|---|
| Native to | Thailand, Laos |
Native speakers | (7,200 cited 1995 census)[1] |
| Language codes | |
| ISO 639-3 | tmp |
| Glottolog | taim1250 |
Tai Mène is a Tai language of Laos.
History
The Mène people claim to be from Xieng Mène (also Xieng My) in Vietnam. These two names correspond to the following two towns in Nghệ An province, Vietnam, located near Quỳ Châu (Chamberlain 1998).
- Xiếng Líp: located at the Nam Lip and Nam Chou (Houay Cha Ha) confluence, near the Cha Ha and Nam Ngoen (Ngân) confluence (which converge to form the Nam Souang or Houay Nguyên).
- Bản Pốt: located further east on the Nam Ngân.
Related languages
Tai Mène appears to be related to Tai Pao (paaw 4 < *baaw A), whose speakers claim to have originated from Tương Dương District, Nghệ An province, Vietnam (Chamberlain 1991). Tai Mène or related languages may have also been spoken in Thường Xuân District, Thanh Hóa, Vietnam by a people known as the "Yo" (Robequain 1929).
Distribution
Tai Mène is spoken in Borikhamxay Province, in many villages of Khamkeut District and several villages in Vieng Thong District (Chamberlain 1998). The Vietic languages Liha, Phong, Toum, Ayoy, Maleng, and Thaveung are spoken nearby.
- Lak Xao subdistrict: Ban Phon Hong, Ban Houay Keo
- Khamkeut subdistrict: Ban Phon Sa-at, Ban Phon Meuang Noy
- Na Heuang subdistrict: Lak 10, Lak 12, Na Khi
- Nam Sak subdistrict: Ban Phon Ngam, Ban Sop Khi
- Sop Chat subdistrict: Ban Sop Chat, Ban Sop Mong, Ban Phon Keo, Ban Sène Sy, Ban Tham Bing, Ban Phiang Pone
- Ka'ane subdistrict: Ban Thène Kwang, Ban Pha Poun, Ban Phiang Phô, Ban Sane, Ban Kok Feuang
- Phon Thoen subdistrict: Keng Kwang, Ban Kătô', Ban Kane Nha, Ban Keng Bit, Ban Sop Gnouang, Ban Vang Xao, Ban Tha Bak, Ban Kăpap
- Sop Pone subdistrict: Ban Sot, Ban Tha Sala, Ban Boung Kham
- Tha Veng subdistrict: Ban Phon Xay, Ban Kong Phat, Ban Xam Toey, Ban Na Khwan, Ban Phou Viang
Notes
- ^ Tai Mène at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
References
- Chamberlain, James R. 1983. The Tai Dialects of Khammouan Province: Their Diversity and Origins. 16th International Conference on Sino-Tibetan Language and Linguistics, 16–18 September (Seattle, Washington, 1983)
- Chamberlain, James R. 1991. "Mène: A Tai dialect originally spoken in Nghệ An (Nghệ Tinh), Vietnam -- preliminary linguistic observations and historical implications." Journal of the Siam Society 79(2):103-123.
- Chamberlain, James R. 1998. "The Origin of the Sek: Implications for Tai and Vietnamese History". Journal of the Siam Society 86.1 & 86.2: 27-48.
- Finot, Louis. 1917. Recherches sur la Littérature Laotienne. BEFEO 17.5.
- Robequain, Charles. 1929. Le Thanh Hod. EFEO, Paris et Bruxelles.